Cyclone Giri Burma - Save the Children Canada 2010

22 November 2010 - Cyclone Giri a category four cyclonic storm made landfall in Burma’s Rakhine State on 22 October causing severe damage to houses and infrastructure in coastal areas. The Government has reported that at least 45 people are dead while over 100 000 people were made homeless and at least 20 380 houses were completely destroyed with a total of at least 260 000 people (52 000 households) in need of assistance. Transportation to the area is challenging as roads and bridges collapsed and were washed away. A large part of the affected areas can only be reached by boat. CIDA is supporting Save the Children Canada to provide emergency shelter materials and essential household non-food items to families that have lost their homes in the cyclone. Additional activities include the provision of family hygiene kits to prevent malaria and other water-borne illnesses and conducting community awareness activities on water and sanitation issues.